Progress Report
Reporting Period: April 2005 – June 2005
Reference: Research Project Work Order #6 -- Federal Aid Project CFDA-20.205 /
Contract No. BC543, "Standards Research, Testing & Training Development for the
Traffic Engineering Research Lab."
Investigators: Faculty -- Leonard J. Tung (P.I.), Jim Simpson, and Jim Zheng
Technical Consultant -- James Langston (on call only)
Research Associate -- Olivier Marietta-Tondin
Khue Ngo, Lead Associate
Francisco Ortiz
Sivam Ramalingam
Technical Staff -- Christine Chen
Doug Murphy (took some leave in summer)
Angela Ruffin (left in May for summer intern)
Chris Taylor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University
2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310
Phone: (850)410-6469 / Fax: (850)410-6479 / Email: tung@eng.fsu.edu
Project Manager: Jeffrey M. Morgan
State Traffic Engineering and Operations Office
Traffic Engineering Research Lab
Florida Department of Transportation
605 Suwannee Street, MS 36
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450
______________________________________________________________________
This report was prepared by Leonard J. Tung, July 2005.
Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
1. PROGRESS
1.1 Milestones accomplished during this reporting period:
April 11, 2005: Iteris became qualified as a FDOT Manufacturer of Video Vehicle
Detector.
April 13, 2005: Duran became qualified as a FDOT Manufacturer of Loop Sealant.
April 14, 2005: Precision Solar Controls became qualified as a FDOT Manufacturer
of LED Traffic Signals.
June 27, 2005: CDR became qualified as a FDOT Manufacturer of Pull and Junction
Box.
June 30, 2005: Carmanah Technologies became qualified as a FDOT Manufacturer of
Internally Illuminated Street Name Sign.
1.2 Schedule
Faculty Researchers:
Leonard Tung is in charge of the administration part of the project and also works
in the following areas of research: NTCIP and Dynamic Message Signs (DMS).
In the summer of 2005, he works out of his office in A341 of COE.
Jim Zheng coordinates the research activities of the Monitoring of LED Traffic
Signals area that includes the testing of LED signal heads, conventional signal
heads and dynamic message signs.
Jim Simpson coordinates the research activities of the quality research team. He
works in the areas of statistical process control and experimental design
techniques concerning the FDOT Equipment Approval Process including the
FDOT Approved Product List.
Research Associates and Technical Staff:
At the moment, the research team consisted of one consultant, four research
associates, and four technical staff members. The team has been given various
tasks involving the surveying, collecting and compiling of specifications and
standards in the research areas of Light Emitting Diodes, Less-Intrusive Vehicle
Detection, Dynamic Message Signs, NTCIP, Advanced Transportation
Controllers, Quality Control Certification, and Testing Infrastructure
Improvements. The team's tasks also include the testing of various devices for
compliance to specifications.
In the summer of 2005, the team's weekly meeting has been scheduled on Thursday
from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. During these meetings, each team member is required to report
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
the work done during the past week, problems encountered if any and projection of future
activity. Each team member is to maintain a personal log detailing his/her research work.
Also during each meeting, one team member is required to give a detailed formal report
on his/her work. The minutes of the meetings are recorded. The spring schedule of the
research team is attached. (Attachment 1)
1.3 Mode of Operation
FDOT Project/Lab Manager, Jeff Morgan, works each weekday with the research
team to guide and direct the progress of the research being done.
Carl Morse and Bob Griner of FDOT, and Steve Bentz of PBS&J, support Mr.
Morgan in various areas of work at the TERL.
The members of the research team continue to maintain the practices and procedures
of the TERL, which have been developed and regularly revised since their forming.
Each student is assigned a personal record book to record all research and testing
activities performed at the Lab. A reading file notebook, containing all practices and
procedures adopted by the TERL has been implemented as required reading for all
staff.
1.4 Summary of the Research Tasks
Our research efforts are concentrated in the following areas:
a) Monitoring of LED Traffic Signals – Signal Illumination:
This area consists of the research and monitoring of light emitting diode (LED)
vehicular traffic / pedestrian signals and other luminary technologies that may
be applicable for this use (including DMS testing.) Doug Murphy, an
undergraduate and a technical staff, has been working closely with and under
the supervision of Dr. Zheng since January. Doug took some leave in the
summer.
b) Vehicle Detection and GPS:
This area consists of the research and identification of application and
performance standards for the various less-intrusive vehicle detection
technologies and pedestrian detection technologies. Khue Ngo, a graduate
student and TERL Research Associate, works closely with Mr. Morgan, Mr.
Morse and Dr. Tung in this area. A progress report by Khue is attached.
(Attachment 2) Chris Taylor, an undergraduate and a technical staff, has been
working with Khue in the area of GPS. A progress report by Chris is attached.
(Attachment 4)
c) National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol (NTCIP):
This area consists of the research and identification of NTCIP testing and
performance standards of various devices, such as traffic signal and DMS
controllers, for ITS applications. Angela Ruffin, an undergraduate and
technical staff, work closely with Dr. Tung and Mr. Morgan in this area.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Angela has left in May for summer intern. Khue Ngo and Chris Taylor have
taken over the area of DMS NTCIP-Compliance testing. They work with
James Langston, a technical consultant (on-call only), in this area. Their
activities in this area are documented in their reports respectively.
(Attachments 2 & 4.)
d) Technology Transfer:
This area consists of developing ways to disseminate the product developed at
the TERL to interested parties. The TERL website was updated and moved to
the following address: http:/potentia.eng.fsu.edu/. Technical staff/
administrative assistant Christine Chen is working on a 10-minute introduction
video presentation of the TERL and an introduction video of the Quality
Research Team under the supervision of Mr. Morgan and Dr. Tung. Chris
Taylor has taken over the development and daily maintenance of the
Departments web-based interactive Approved Product List (iAPL.)
e) Advanced Transportation Traffic Signal Controller & Intersection Operation:
Effort in this area is limited to NTCIP Compliance of ASC by the NTCIP team.
f) Quality Engineering:
This area consist of the following two areas: 1) the continued refinement and
implementation of the FDOT APL Vendor Quality Assurance Program
developed at the TERL and 2) the analyzing of all testing procedures
performed at the TERL to enhance their efficiency and accuracy. Francisco
Ortiz, Olivier Marietta-Tondin, and Sivam Ramalingam, all graduate students
and TERL Research Associates, assists Dr. Simpson & Mr. Morgan in the
refinement and implementation of this program. Steve Bentz of PBS&J has
been working closely with this group in February to help implementing the
program. A progress report by the Quality Research Team is attached.
(Attachment 3)
1.4.1 The following research tasks are currently in progress:
1) NTCIP Standards Development, Testing and Training
 testing in progress for devices submitted by DMS manufacturer ADDCO
 completed the NTCIP Qualification Test for Adaptive Micro Systems
Permanent Mount Dynamic Message Sign
 literature search in progress for existing ASC functional requirements and
specifications involving NTCIP
 review of NTCIP 1202 Version 1 and 2 standards (in progress)
 review of NEMA TS 2 standard (in progress)
 review of ASC MIB developed by Dade County in 1999 (in progress)
 review of Naztec documentation of ASCs implementing NTCIP (in
progress)
 review of NTCIP 8007 NTCIP Testing and Conformity Assessment
Documentation Within NTCIP Standards Publications Comment Draft
 review of IEEE 829 IEEE Standard for Software Test Documentation
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
 initial development with Intelligent Devices, Inc. NTCIP ActiveX Control
and Device Tester software
 work with JScript .NET (possible language for development of test
scripts)
2) Quality Research Engineering
 modification of the quality control minimum standards checklist (ongoing)
 development began on the 2 nd phase of this program: a monitoring
program to verify compliance to quality standards once a device is sold
and installed in the state. (ongoing)
3) Display Properties Testing for LED Traffic Signals and DMS
 design and build a 60-foot light tunnel (design complete, construction is
ON HOLD)
 purchase equipment for the PC based testing system (on hold)
 chromaticity study of LED signal heads (on going, with several brands by
various manufacturers being tested)
 intensity study of signal heads (on going, with several brands by various
manufacturers being tested)
 viewing angle study of LEDs on DMSs (ongoing)
 intensity test of flasher LED warning signals (ongoing)
 test procedures documentation (under revision)
4) Vehicle Detection
 evaluation of various installed detector technologies (ON HOLD)
 re-evaluation of various detectors that were previously evaluated by the
TERL (ON HOLD)
 update the current TERL developed vehicle detection standards
(microwave, infrared, video, radar, etc.) which contain the minimum
standards required to become approved and placed on the Approved
Product List (APL). (Complete)
 develop analytical software tools to perform statistical analysis on the
travel-time data collected with GPS technology. (90%)
5) Traffic Engineering Applications
 identify a Traffic Engineering Consultant that will be working on an as-
needed basis on Traffic Engineering issues. (ON HOLD)
6) Technology Transfer
 updated and moved the TERL project internet web site now located at
http://potentia.eng.fsu.edu, (includes the Approved Product List (APL)).
 publish TERL quarterly newsletter, Technology Lab Notes, which
highlights a specific activity each quarter. (ON HOLD)
7) Continue the solicitation, compiling, and sorting of specs / standards in all
major research areas (on going).
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
2. Next Quarter Goals and Objectives:
2.1 NTCIP Testing Procedures:
1) Continue the support of the TERL Dynamic Message Sign Pre-qualification Program.
2) Continue the development of the Actuated Signal Controller NTCIP standards for
Florida.
3) Begin development of an NTCIP/SunGuide device testing program for all ITS
devices supported by the FDOT SunGuide software.
2.2 Monitoring of LED Traffic Signals:
1) Investigate the discrepancy of intensity measurements collected with two devices
(with Photo Research colorimeter and with a power meter) and those measured by an
independent national lab.
2) Finalize the development of the TERL Statewide LED Signal Monitoring Program.
2.3 Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) Technology:
1) Continue other work being done, concerning the DMS, in the NTCIP and Monitoring
of LED Traffic Signals (display testing) areas.
2.4 Vehicle Detection: (ON HOLD)
2.5 Vehicle Traffic Controller Technology:
1) Develop the knowledge required to produce training material and provide training
and assistance concerning signalized intersection & traffic controller operation
(isolated and coordinated intersection operation).
2) Start the development of testing procedures to be used to evaluate a traffic controller
to FDOT standards that will be used late to automate the testing procedures
(including the development of a Florida Specific ASC MIB).
2.6 Quality Engineering:
1) Continue the review and enhancement of the TERL Quality Assurance Program and
implement the program to determine the existence and level of quality control and
assurance programs in-place by approved FDOT manufacturers in their manufacture
of traffic equipment.
2) Complete the QA/QC review of the FDOT Approved Product List and recommend
changes.
3) Aid in the statistical analysis of experiments in LED testing and NTCIP compliance
testing.
2.7 Portable GPS Unit for Moving Vehicle Studies:
1) To evaluate the potential of a portable GPS device as an effective research tool for
conducting moving vehicle studies.
2) To evaluate or develop applications programs for reading and subsequently compiling
the raw data acquired by the GPS unit. A database program is required to present the
results in a convenient format.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
3) To evaluate or develop application software for computing the distance, travel time,
delay, stops, and fuel consumption based on the data collected by the GPS unit.
2.8 Technology Transfer:
1) To maintain the web site located at http://rite.eng.fsu.edu
2) To maintain the quarterly publication of the Technology Lab Notes newsletter.
3) Produce an introductory video describing the activities at the TERL.
4) Present lab material at various meetings, workshops, etc.
5) Maintain the computer network at the TERL.
2.9 Training:
1) Continue the development of training facilities in each area of research.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Attachment 1
Schedule for TERL
Spring 2005
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
TERL Schedule for Summer 2005 Semester
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Hrs
Christine Chen 7:00 – 5:00 7:00 – 5:00 20
Chris Taylor 1:00 - 3:00 2:30 - 4:30 1:00 - 3:00 2:30 - 4:30 3:00 - 5:00 10
Doug Murphy 2:00 – 5:00 12:00 - 5:00 9:00 - 3:00 12:00 - 6:00 20
Khue Ngo 9:30 – 12:30 9:30 – 12:30 9:30 – 12:30 9:30 – 12:30 10:00 – 12:00 14
Francisco Ortiz 12:00 - 5:00 12:00 - 5:00 12:00 - 5:00 9:00 - 2:00 20
Sivam Ramalingam 10:00 -2:00 10:00 -2:00 10:00 -2:00 10:00 -2:00 10:00 -2:00 20
Steven Bentz 8:00 -5:00 8:00 -5:00 8:00 -5:00 8:00 -5:00 8:00 -5:00 40
Olivier Tondin 11:00 - 1:00 11:00 - 1:00 11:00 - 1:00 8:00 - 12:00 11:00 - 1:00 12
The meetings are scheduled for Thursdays at 9.30 am
CONTACT INFORMATION:
IPTEL 410-6415 EE Fax 410-6479
TERL (FSU Line) 410-6492 TERL Fax 410-6402
Jeff Morgan 410-5579 jeffrey.morgan@dot.state.fl.us
Carl Morse 414-4863 carl.morse@dot.state.fl.us
Bob Griner 414-4865 bob.griner@dot.state.fl.us
Dr. Leonard Tung 410-6469 tung@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Jim Zheng 410-6464 zheng@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Jim Simpson 410-6354 simpson@eng.fsu.edu
Christine Chen 668-3102 yfs@eng.fsu.edu
James Langston 421-8453 langston@eng.fsu.edu
Doug Murphy 350-0373 murphdo@eng.fsu.edu
Khue Ngo 339-2482 khuengo@eng.fsu.edu
Francisco Ortiz 410-6332/284-5824 (cell) fortiz@eng.fsu.edu
Sivam Ramalingam 561-0699 ramalsi@eng.fsu.edu
Olivier Marietta-Tondin 321-6542 marietta@eng.fsu.edu
Chris Taylor 818-497-1784 cat02e@fsu.edu
Steve Bentz 342-3330/508-0007(cell) steven.bentz@gmail.com
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Attachment 2
Research Progress Report
By
Khue Ngo
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Traffic Engineering Research Laboratory
Florida Department of Transportation and FAMU - FSU College of Engineering
Research Progress Report – 2nd Quarter 2005
Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection System + GPS Travel Time + NTCIP
Area Manager: Dr. Leonard J. Tung
Research Associate: Khue Q Ngo
Date: July 2005
1. TERL network maintenance
Most of the time, I set up, maintained the computer system at the lab. The job description running
from set up new workstation, install and update new software, backup the system, troubleshot
network printers to reconfigure the system, adding new devices. During this quarter, due to black
out, the server was crashed and I had to reinstall and upgrade the Windows XP Server software as
well as DVD burner for files back-up. I did regularly file backup on DVD.
2. NTCIP and DMS testing
I reviewed NTCIP 120x standards and practiced DMS testing on Skyline DMS signs, to be ready
for upcoming DMS signs testing and evaluation.
3. TMC and ITC Test Plan
Being an active member in TMC and ITC Test Plan project, we had weekly meeting discussing
the indispensable work to prepare for the test lab in July 2005. Reviewed plans and made
suggestions. Worked on putting a mock-up TMC system for testing purpose.
4. GPS project
Guided Chris Taylor on programming the interface for GPS based travel time analytical software.
5. Other tasks
Maintaining and updating the working schedule for all research associates. Producing the TERL
meeting minutes every week.
Reviewed and wrote summary report on UDOT – RMC (Ramp Meter Controller) NTCIP testing
plan.
Reviewed and wrote summary report on Video vehicle Detection system.
Attended a CORSIM 4-day training class in Orlando, FL. Made presentation to TERL staff.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Attachment 3
Research Progress Report
By
Quality Research Team
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Traffic Engineering Research Laboratory (TERL)
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Quality Assurance Department
Progress Report
For Period:
April 1st 2005 – June 30th 2005
Quality Research Team:
Dr. James Simpson
Francisco Ortiz
Olivier Marietta-Tondin
Steven Bentz
Sivam Ramalingam
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
1.0 Introduction
In the 2 nd quarter of 2005 the number of submittals by manufacturers was not as
many as what we experienced in the 1st quarter of 2005. This has given the quality
team more time to work on internal quality issues as part of continuous
improvement.
2.0 Personnel
No Changes in the aspect of members of the quality team.
3.0 QA Evaluation Tools
The current evaluation survey is undergoing an improvement process. The
purpose of this activity is to mold the survey to be more self explanatory,
standardized in terms presentation and more accurate in outlining TERL’s quality
requirement.
In addition, an effort to formalize an internal Quality Management System (QMS)
in accordance to ISO Standards has begun. The QMS in this beginning stage is
being developed to cover the operations of the quality department and in the
future it is anticipated to cover the entire TERL operations.
The re-evaluation program has gone through several meetings as far as content
development is concerned. It is still under development.
The database has gone through another upgrade. In the latest upgrade “What’s
New” page was added. This page has a specific feature to displays information
such as:
1. List of recent events based on selected start date
2. Basic statistics on number of submittals and pre-evaluation & evaluation
passes & fails.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
4.0 QA Evaluation Update
To date 89 Vendors/Manufacturers have submitted documents for qualification
 29 have qualified (2 of 29 are DMS makers)
 14 are due for re-qualification (4 of 7 is a DMS maker)
 47 remain in the system in various queues and re-routings
 3 Remain inactive
The Manufacturers that have passed in Evaluation in 2nd quarter are:
 Iteris Inc. – April 11, 2005
 Durant Corporation – April 13, 2005
 Precision Solar Controls – April 15, 2005
 Carmanah Technologies Inc. – April 28, 2005
 Litesys, Inc. – June 15, 2005
 Oldcastle Precast - June 17, 2005
 CDR Systems Corporation - June 27, 2005
5.0 Future Plans
The quality team shall focus more on establishment re-evaluation program and in-house
QMS as part of the future plan. The audit trip has been finalized to the location and manufacturers
of target; however the date has not been fixed yet. The trip was previously anticipated to take
place sometime in May 2005 but it is postponed to August 2005.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Attachment 4
Research Progress Report
by
Chris Taylor
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
Progress Report for 2004-2006 quarter 6
As of July 6, 2005
by Chris Taylor
Projects Summary
+ GPS software with Khue Ngo
+ iAPL
+ NTCIP
Project: GPS software with Khue Ngo
This has been mainly on hold, however some progress has
been made. I requested documentation about the raw
database generated by the TMMS GPS device and received
plenty. What remains to be done is adding a new feature to
my GPS software to import the raw database.
Project: iAPL
Initially there were some roadblocks getting started on the
iAPL project. Brandon was unavailable to meet, the FDOT
did not receive my e-mails requesting requirements for
hosting on their servers, and I had no access to the
existing code. However, one by one these difficulties were
overcome and since then, great progress has been made with
the iAPL. It has gone through several phases in my
development schedule and a few more remain:
(1) Getting the existing iAPL functional and working
without adding new features
The server (rite.eng.fsu.edu) was hacked and the MySQL
software was reinstalled. Some permissions were not set up
for the iAPL site, so I had to fix the configuration files.
The administration site was publicly accessible, which was
quickly fixed with Apache’s directory permissions.
There were some bugs in the code that prevented several of
the features from working. Fixing these gave me a good
introduction on how PHP works with Apache under UNIX.
I made a few updates to the page, to update contact
information and post news.
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Progress Report No.6: April 2005 – June 2005
(2) Getting and evaluating the requirements from the
FDOT for hosting on their servers
After Jeff gave me a hand, this was easy. They require
MSSQL and ASP.NET/IIS for the coding, as well as a certain
look and feel for the visual construction of the public
pages. iAPL is being hosted on a Linux machine running
MySQL and PHP/Apache at this time, so this involves a lot
of tinkering.
(3) Setting up the iAPL on potentia.eng.fsu.edu
The potentia server is running IIS6, PHP5 and MSSQL.
The first step was to import the existing APL database into
MSSQL. This was accomplished using the mysqldump tool and
hand-editing the .sql query file it produced to work
properly with MSSQL.
Next I decided to get the PHP version of the public APL
viewer working under IIS and MSSQL. After some jiggery-
pokery this is now functional, though it has involved
installing version 5 of PHP manually.
Presently I’m working on getting the admin site working as
before.
I’ve noticed a few SQL injection vulnerabilities in the
original site design, which need to be addressed as soon as
the admin site works again. These won’t prevent it from
being used instead of the version on rite.eng.fsu.edu. My
plan is then to convert the code base over to ASP.NET,
refactoring as I go.
Project: NTCIP
No work to report on this project.
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